is this game worth it without a flight sim controller?

[Crustacean]

I am mainly interested in the tank portion of the game but since you have to buy base game first id like to play it too. but most flight games require a flight controller it sees. is this worth playing without one or is it kinda required?

[Weißbrot]

No.

[gheoss]

Just get a cheap flightstick...

[BRIMStone]

Originally posted by gheoss:

Just get a cheap flightstick...

i recommend the logitech extreme 3d pro as a decent starter joystick, nice ammount of buttons for super important heat-of-the-moment controls, and a small throttle lever on the back...

[Crustacean]

Originally posted by Pinball with Stick:

Originally posted by gheoss:

Just get a cheap flightstick...

i recommend the logitech extreme 3d pro as a decent starter joystick, nice ammount of buttons for super important heat-of-the-moment controls, and a small throttle lever on the back...

is there a big learning curve to use them? or are they fairly easy to pick up and use? I dont have any aircraft sim experience whatsoever.

[shadowgravy]

Originally posted by InvadeGames:

I am mainly interested in the tank portion of the game

You don't need a flight stick for Tank Crew. And to some degree you can play the flight sim content with a mouse and keyboard. A stick is much better though. They are easy to set up and use but you will have to set aside some time to assign functions to your stick. There are YouTube tutorials specific to IL-2 Battle of Stalingrad that will show you how.

You can buy Tank Crew as a stand-alone game at il2sturmovik.com. Steam policy treats it as a DLC here, but in reality all of the "expansions" here are stand-alone modules that merge together.

[Crustacean]

Originally posted by shadowgravy:

Originally posted by InvadeGames:

I am mainly interested in the tank portion of the game

You don't need a flight stick for Tank Crew. And to some degree you can play the flight sim content with a mouse and keyboard. A stick is much better though. They are easy to set up and use but you will have to set aside some time to assign functions to your stick. There are YouTube tutorials specific to IL-2 Battle of Stalingrad that will show you how.

You can buy Tank Crew as a stand-alone game at il2sturmovik.com. Steam policy treats it as a DLC here, but in reality all of the "expansions" here are stand-alone modules that merge together.

thank you thats good to know. I already order4d the above stick reccomended and the plane side is on sale rn so ill probably still buy it but good to know the tank one is stand alone!

[BRIMStone]

Originally posted by InvadeGames:

Originally posted by shadowgravy:

You don't need a flight stick for Tank Crew. And to some degree you can play the flight sim content with a mouse and keyboard. A stick is much better though. They are easy to set up and use but you will have to set aside some time to assign functions to your stick. There are YouTube tutorials specific to IL-2 Battle of Stalingrad that will show you how.

You can buy Tank Crew as a stand-alone game at il2sturmovik.com. Steam policy treats it as a DLC here, but in reality all of the "expansions" here are stand-alone modules that merge together.

thank you thats good to know. I already order4d the above stick reccomended and the plane side is on sale rn so ill probably still buy it but good to know the tank one is stand alone!

if youre playing on steam, you'd need to get "battle of stalingrad" anyway...

also, i suggest just getting battle of stalingrad on steam, and then getting the rest through the IL2 website...itll ask you to link your account so youll get it all, and can download updates at an actually reasonable speed...

tank crew is fun, also check out the 2 collector vehicles, 2 AA trucks, one russian and one german...its fun to try shooting planes down

[VelxraTV]

If you get the logitech 3d pro around $30-$40 its a good starter stick. Although old its robust. The thrustmaster t16000 is next in line for the pricing better to just buy the whole hotas as a set.

This sale of tank crew is the lowest its ever been, under $30. Well worth the buy. Just be sure you understand tank missions are sub missions in servers and main tank servers are mostly event based. Check the iL2 forums to find things.

Although I greatly enjoy controlling the tanks via pedals and throttle controls. Its just as easy on keyboard. Expect to take time to learn the keys or write down notes of what keys to use. I have a notepad to flip through for quick reference.


I just got a couple friends to buy tank crew. I'm looking forward to multi crewing a tank with them. On the other hand since they bought stalingrad they can also be connon fodder err key personnel in gunner positions of my bombers.

Edit: side note, only full releases are on steam. There are a couple ea tanks and battle of normandy only in the iL2 store. Once they hit full release they go to steam and the next ea project is placed in the iL2 store.

[Crustacean]

Originally posted by Vivi Sinz:

If you get the logitech 3d pro around $30-$40 its a good starter stick. Although old its robust. The thrustmaster t16000 is next in line for the pricing better to just buy the whole hotas as a set.

This sale of tank crew is the lowest its ever been, under $30. Well worth the buy. Just be sure you understand tank missions are sub missions in servers and main tank servers are mostly event based. Check the iL2 forums to find things.

Although I greatly enjoy controlling the tanks via pedals and throttle controls. Its just as easy on keyboard. Expect to take time to learn the keys or write down notes of what keys to use. I have a notepad to flip through for quick reference.


I just got a couple friends to buy tank crew. I'm looking forward to multi crewing a tank with them. On the other hand since they bought stalingrad they can also be connon fodder err key personnel in gunner positions of my bombers.

Edit: side note, only full releases are on steam. There are a couple ea tanks and battle of normandy only in the iL2 store. Once they hit full release they go to steam and the next ea project is placed in the iL2 store.

i thought there was single player mode? but you can only play it online?

[Cuda]

Tank Crew does not need anything other than mouse and keyboard.

That Logitech stick is indeed the best starter stick for the money with one huge flaw. Spring tension. The spring they use is way way too strong. You will be fighting that stick, especially at far ranges of motion. For some its so taxing it makes flying a chore you dont look forward to. Everyone is different but that was my experience with the stick.

Its too bad too, it has one of the best feeling grips I have ever used, fantastic selection of buttons, cheap and built to last. I just got sick of fighting it. I did see you can take it apart and weaken the spring with a torch, I may do that. If it just had a weaker spring its almost perfect as far as non feedback sticks go. If you like a stiffer spring its fantastic in all respects.

I use my Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback II which is almost a quarter century old. I can set my own spring strength in the games settings (30% in IL2 right now), each plane feels completely different, bombers have stiff controls while the P51 is soft as butter. The buttons are few unfortunately but once you get used to force feedback in this game its hard to give up.

[BRIMStone]

Originally posted by InvadeGames:

Originally posted by Vivi Sinz:

If you get the logitech 3d pro around $30-$40 its a good starter stick. Although old its robust. The thrustmaster t16000 is next in line for the pricing better to just buy the whole hotas as a set.

This sale of tank crew is the lowest its ever been, under $30. Well worth the buy. Just be sure you understand tank missions are sub missions in servers and main tank servers are mostly event based. Check the iL2 forums to find things.

Although I greatly enjoy controlling the tanks via pedals and throttle controls. Its just as easy on keyboard. Expect to take time to learn the keys or write down notes of what keys to use. I have a notepad to flip through for quick reference.


I just got a couple friends to buy tank crew. I'm looking forward to multi crewing a tank with them. On the other hand since they bought stalingrad they can also be connon fodder err key personnel in gunner positions of my bombers.

Edit: side note, only full releases are on steam. There are a couple ea tanks and battle of normandy only in the iL2 store. Once they hit full release they go to steam and the next ea project is placed in the iL2 store.

i thought there was single player mode? but you can only play it online?

theres missions that come with the different packs...

you can also find missions made online, or use pat wilsons campaign generator....lots of options for single player...

AI has been updated but its not the same as pvp, still can be fun though

[Bone]

I'm pretty casual when it comes to flight sims, I essentially picked up IL-2 so I can experience WW2 planes in VR. I've found that a Xbox1 controller works fine if you map autopilot to one of the buttons & are happy to let the AI take over for take off & landings.

[shadowgravy]

Tank Crew single player is very limited because the AI is more scripted/user directed than autonomous. Expect battles to be blunt slugfests against enemies equipped with X-Ray Snipe-O-Vision. Vehicles can get hung up on minor objects like crates and trees so unfortunately there is no crashing through building walls to flank enemies. Still, nothing beats Tank Crew for the feel of being inside a WWII tank -- especially in VR.

[Phoenix]

I've been flying with an Xbox controller, after a few sorties and tweaking the sensitivity and deadzone, I'm very comfortable with it. I'll eventually get a dedicated joystick but right now the controller serves a good purpose for just a pilot career and other single player missions. A joystick is great but you can certainly play with just a gamepad, a keyboard is nice for extra keybinds though.